Residential Indoor Radon Assessment in the Vicinity of some Dumpsites in Lagos, Nigeria

Dumpsites in Nigeria are generally open and significantly elevate the pollution and contamination level of the total environment. Indoor radon was measured with CR-39 detectors in some buildings in the vicinity of dumpsites in Lagos, Nigeria. Eight (8) dumpsites (4 dormant and 4 active dumpsites) were chosen for this study. Detectors were exposed in 50 houses randomly selected within 0 and 100m away from the dumpsites. The detectors were exposed for 3 months. They were then retrieved and etched in a 6M NaOH solution in a water-bath at a temperature of 90oC for 3 hours. Tracks were counted using a semi-automatic system with a DCE camera mounted on a microscope and connected to a PC. Radon concentration ranged from 24.00\ub14.86 to 656.00\ub1131.20 Bqm-3 in the active dumpsites. Mean concentrations were 120.3\ub124.0, 257\ub151.4, 179.8\ub133.6, and 131.5\ub119.4, respectively in Oke-Odo, MRF, Olusosun, and Solus-3. In the dormant sites, concentration ranged from 16\ub13.2 to 931\ub1186.3 Bqm-3 having means of 194.17\ub138.80, 206.75\ub141.33, 223.25\ub144.69, and 334\ub166.85Bqm-3, respectively in Oke-Afa, Solus-1, Solus-2, and Solus-4. The annual effective dose and cancer risk in the active and dormant dumpsites were (3.60 mSv, 8.97 per million person-yearly) and (4.53 mSv, 12.47 per million person-yearly), respectively. This study revealed some high value of radon concentrations in some houses close to the dormant dumpsites than in the active dumpsites. This is unsafe and can cause severe health issues in the long term

Traditional eye medicine use by newly presenting ophthalmic patients to a teaching hospital in south-eastern Nigeria: socio-demographic and clinical correlates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study set out to determine the incidence, socio-demographic, and clinical correlates of Traditional Eye Medicine (TEM) use in a population of newly presenting ophthalmic outpatients attending a tertiary eye care centre in south-eastern Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a comparative cross-sectional survey at the eye clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, between August 2004 - July 2006, all newly presenting ophthalmic outpatients were recruited. Participants' socio-demographic and clinical data and profile of TEM use were obtained from history and examination of each participant and entered into a pretested questionnaire and proforma. Participants were subsequently categorized into TEM- users and non-users; intra-group analysis yielded proportions, frequencies, and percentages while chi-square test was used for inter-group comparisons at P = 0.01, df = 1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 2,542 (males, 48.1%; females, 51.9%) participants, 149 (5.9%) (males, 45%; females, 55%) used TEM for their current eye disease. The TEMs used were chemical substances (57.7%), plant products (37.7%), and animal products (4.7%). They were more often prescribed by non-traditional (66.4%) than traditional (36.9%) medicine practitioners. TEMs were used on account of vision loss (58.5%), ocular itching (25.4%) and eye discharge (3.8%). Reported efficacy from previous users (67.1%) and belief in potency (28.2%) were the main reasons for using TEM. Civil servants (20.1%), farmers (17.7%), and traders (14.1%) were the leading users of TEM. TEM use was significantly associated with younger age (p < 0.01), being married (p < 0.01), rural residence (p < 0.01), ocular anterior segment disease (p < 0.01), delayed presentation (p < 0.01), low presenting visual acuity (p < 0.01), and co-morbid chronic medical disease (p < 0.01), but not with gender (p = 0.157), and educational status (p = 0.115).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of TEM use among new ophthalmic outpatients at UNTH is low. The reasons for TEM use are amenable to positive change through enhanced delivery of promotive, preventive, and curative public eye care services. This has implications for eye care planners and implementers. To reverse the trend, we suggest strengthening of eye care programmes, even distribution of eye care resources, active collaboration with orthodox eye care providers and traditional medical practitioners, and intensification of research efforts into the pharmacology of TEMs.</p

The Effects of Leachate on Groundwater in Ota Industrial Area Southwest, Nigeria

Compositions of landfill leachate and groundwater pollution were studied at industrial sites landfill, which are located at Ota, Nigeria. The leachate was sampled at 5 different locations at the landfill, and at 15 and 20 m downstream of the landfill. Groundwater samples were collected from 10 different sources to study the possible impact of leachate percolation into the groundwater. The leachate and groundwater samples were collected during wet season, due to the excessive generation of leachate during this season. The objective of this work was to analyzed the groundwater pollution due to the landfill leachate. The leachate and groundwater were physically and chemically characterized. The parameters measured were pH, acidity, alkalinity, electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), chloride (Cl–),sulphate calcium hardness, heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu), major cations (Na, Mg, ph, and Fe). The leachate at this landfill were most likely in methanogenic phase, based on the pH value recorded (pH=6.08). The result show that the samples are contaminated, where the concentration of physicochemical parameters are below the standard acceptable levels which are required for drinking water adapted by The Nigerian Standard for Drinking water quality (NSDWQ). Therefore, detailed study of the leachate and its effect on the groundwater in the study area was recommended.Keywords: Groundwater, leachates, conductivity, heavy metals, pollution

Indoor radon survey in a university campus of Nigeria

CR-39 tracketch detectors were used for the measurement of 222Rn concentration in 24 offices in Nigeria’s oldest university campus in order to estimate the effective dose to the occupants from 222Rn and its progeny. The dosimetric measurements were made over a period of 3 months. Questionnaires were distributed and analyzed. The radon concentration ranged from 157 to 495 Bq/m3, with an arithmetic mean and standard deviation of 293.3 and 79.6 Bq/ m3, respectively. The effective dose to the workers was estimated and this varied from 0.99 to 3.12 mSv/ y, with a mean of 1.85 mSv/y. The radon concentrations were found to be within the reference levels of ICRP